Special Issue "Microbe-Assisted Production of Horticultural Crops"

A special issue of Horticulturae (ISSN 2311-7524). This special issue belongs to the section "Biotic and Abiotic Stress".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 November 2021.

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Giovanni Bubici
E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Istituto per la Protezione Sostenibile delle Piante, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, 70126 Bari, Italy
Interests: soil-borne plant pathogens; beneficial microorganisms; soil microbiome; Verticillium; Pyrenochaeta; Fusarium; Streptomyces; biological control; integrated disease management; plant genetic resistance; plant-microbe interaction; microbe genomics; plant functional genomics
Special Issues and Collections in MDPI journals
Dr. Maria Isabella Prigigallo
E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Istituto per la Protezione Sostenibile delle Piante, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Turin, Italy
Interests: beneficial microorganisms; soil microbiome; Phytophthora spp.; Fusarium; biological control; plant–microbe interaction; metagenomics; plant functional genomics; molecular plant pathology; plant genetic resistance
Special Issues and Collections in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Plants are exposed to a plethora of biotic and abiotic stresses. Moreover, due to the increase of the global human population and the consequent augmented food demand, there is a pressing need for novel agricultural techniques that can support an environment-friendly and cost-effective way to manage crop stresses. Agriculture intensification requires more inputs of synthetic fungicides and fertilizers, thus compromising sustainability and eco-compatibility. The use of beneficial microorganisms or the manipulation of the indigenous microbiota are good options for minimizing the negative effects of agriculture intensification. Through their direct and indirect interactions with the plants, beneficial microorganisms control pests, pathogens, and weeds, increase yields, and improve the quality of plant products. Furthermore, the microbiota has been known to contribute to the expression of plant genotype into the phenotype, hence traditional breeding has moved towards the so-called “microbial-assisted breeding”.

This Special Issue will address basic and applied aspects of the use of beneficial microorganisms to make crop production more sustainable. We invite researchers to submit papers (review articles and research results) that highlight the application of beneficial microbes on enhancing sustainable agricultural production, with the objectives to unveil different aspects of crop management, including their interactions with the horticultural crops and other organisms and the dynamics of their assemblies under diverse natural and anthropological pressures. Primary and applied research opening novel applications of microorganisms are appreciated. Reviews pointing to the summary of past works around this theme and bringing to light new scientific evidence will also be welcome.

Dr. Giovanni Bubici
Dr. Maria Isabella Prigigallo
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All papers will be peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Horticulturae is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • horticultural crops
  • biological control agents
  • integrated crop disease management
  • plant growth promotion
  • holobiont
  • microbiota

Published Papers (4 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Other

Article
Early Physiological Response of Potato Plants to Entomopathogenic Fungi under Hydroponic Conditions
Horticulturae 2021, 7(8), 217; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae7080217 - 30 Jul 2021
Viewed by 336
Abstract
Endophytic entomopathogenic fungi are promising agents for the promotion of plant growth, the activation of immunity, and protection against phytopathogens. However, physiological changes in plants after treatment with fungi are insufficiently studied. We investigated the effect of potato inoculation with conidia from Metarhizium [...] Read more.
Endophytic entomopathogenic fungi are promising agents for the promotion of plant growth, the activation of immunity, and protection against phytopathogens. However, physiological changes in plants after treatment with fungi are insufficiently studied. We investigated the effect of potato inoculation with conidia from Metarhizium robertsii and Beauveria bassiana on the growth (fresh and dry weight, length of shoots and roots, counts of stolons and leaves, and total surface area of leaves) and physiological parameters (pigment contents, free proline and malondialdehyde content, and activity of antioxidant enzymes) at the initial stage of the plant–fungus interaction (seven days) under hydroponic conditions. The results showed that the fungi could act as an immune-modulating factor for plants based on the increase in malondialdehyde and proline contents. At the same time, we observed growth retardation and a decrease in the content of photosynthetic pigments, which may be caused by a tradeoff between plant growth and the immune response. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbe-Assisted Production of Horticultural Crops)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Article
The Effect of Mycorrhizal Inoculum and Phosphorus Treatment on Growth and Flowering of Ajania (Ajania pacifica (Nakai) Bremer et Humphries) Plant
Horticulturae 2021, 7(7), 178; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae7070178 - 03 Jul 2021
Viewed by 428
Abstract
The influence of mycorrhizal inoculum in combination with different phosphorus treatments on growth and flowering parameters of Ajania (Ajania pacifica (Nakai) Bremer et Humphries) plants was investigated in two growing seasons (2015 and 2016). Plants of the cultivar ‘Silver and Gold’ were [...] Read more.
The influence of mycorrhizal inoculum in combination with different phosphorus treatments on growth and flowering parameters of Ajania (Ajania pacifica (Nakai) Bremer et Humphries) plants was investigated in two growing seasons (2015 and 2016). Plants of the cultivar ‘Silver and Gold’ were transplanted into pots either with added mycorrhizal inoculum or without inoculum and assigned to four phosphorus treatments. Mycorrhizal colonization was assessed by evaluating the frequency of colonization, intensity of colonization and density of fungal structures (arbuscules, vesicles, coils and microsclerotia) in the roots. During the growing season, the content of plant available phosphorus in the soil was analyzed, and shoot length, number of shoots, number of inflorescences, number of flowers and flowering time were evaluated. Inoculated Ajania plants were successfully colonized with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and dark septate endophytic fungi. In the root segments, hyphae were mainly observed, as well as vesicles, coils, arbuscules and microsclerotia, but in lower density. The density of fungal structures did not differ among phosphorus treatments, but did differ between years, with a higher density of fungal structures in 2016. Mycorrhizal plants developed higher number of shoots in 2016, higher number of inflorescences, higher number of flowers, and they flowered longer compared to uninoculated plants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbe-Assisted Production of Horticultural Crops)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Article
Effect of Bacillus spp. and Brevibacillus sp. on the Photosynthesis and Redox Status of Solanum lycopersicum
Horticulturae 2021, 7(2), 24; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae7020024 - 03 Feb 2021
Viewed by 915
Abstract
Plant-growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) are gaining attention as a sustainable alternative to current agrochemicals. This study evaluated the impact of three Bacillus spp. (5PB1, 1PB1, FV46) and one Brevibacillus sp. (C9F) on the important crop tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) using the model cv. [...] Read more.
Plant-growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) are gaining attention as a sustainable alternative to current agrochemicals. This study evaluated the impact of three Bacillus spp. (5PB1, 1PB1, FV46) and one Brevibacillus sp. (C9F) on the important crop tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) using the model cv. ‘MicroTom’. The effects of these isolates were assessed on (a) seedlings’ growth and vigor, and (b) adult potted plants. In potted plants, several photosynthetic parameters (chlorophylls (a and b), carotenoids and anthocyanins contents, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, net CO2 photosynthetic rate, and intercellular CO2 concentration, and on chlorophyll fluorescence yields of light- and dark-adapted leaves)), as well as soluble sugars and starch contents, were quantified. Additionally, the effects on redox status were evaluated. While the growth of seedlings was, overall, not influenced by the strains, some effects were observed on adult plants. The Bacillus safensis FV46 stimulated the content of pigments, compared to C9F. Bacillus zhangzhouensis 5PB1 increased starch levels and was positively correlated with some parameters of the photophosphorylation and the gas exchange phases. Interestingly, Bacillus megaterium 1PB1 decreased superoxide (O2) content, and B. safensis FV46 promoted non-enzymatic antioxidant defenses, increasing total phenol content levels. These results, conducted on a model cultivar, support the theory that these isolates differently act on tomato plant physiology, and that their activity depends on the age of the plant, and may differently influence photosynthesis. It would now be interesting to analyze the influence of these bacteria using commercial cultivars. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbe-Assisted Production of Horticultural Crops)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Other

Jump to: Research

Brief Report
Biological Control of the Raspberry Eriophyoid Mite Phyllocoptes gracilis Using Entomopathogenic Fungi
Horticulturae 2021, 7(3), 54; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae7030054 - 18 Mar 2021
Viewed by 649
Abstract
There is an urgent need to develop biological control methods against the eriophyoid mite, Phyllocoptes gracilis, which causes significant losses in organic raspberry production in Europe. The use of entomopathogenic fungi (EF) is a sustainable alternative to conventional chemical pesticides, reducing the [...] Read more.
There is an urgent need to develop biological control methods against the eriophyoid mite, Phyllocoptes gracilis, which causes significant losses in organic raspberry production in Europe. The use of entomopathogenic fungi (EF) is a sustainable alternative to conventional chemical pesticides, reducing the risks of pesticide resistance and other negative environmental impacts of agriculture. The objective of this study was to assess the pathogenicity of three strains of EF, two of Beauveria bassiana and one of Metarhizium anisopliae, on P. gracilis under laboratory conditions. Fungal spore suspensions (1 × 107 spores per mL) were sprayed on detached leaves infested with P. gracilis. Treated mites were kept under controlled conditions (25 ± 3 °C, 72 ± 10% relative humidity and photoperiod of 16:8 (light/dark)) and mite mortality was assessed three, five and seven days after inoculation. At all three measurement points (days after inoculation), the mortality of P. gracilis was highest for B. bassiana strain BB 1.1 and M. anisopliae strain MA 10.1. Our data demonstrate that EFs are promising candidates for the development of biological control agents against P. gracilis in raspberry crops. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbe-Assisted Production of Horticultural Crops)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Planned Papers

The below list represents only planned manuscripts. Some of these manuscripts have not been received by the Editorial Office yet. Papers submitted to MDPI journals are subject to peer-review.

title: Early physiological response of potato plants to enthomopathogenic fungi under hydroponic conditions

Authors: Oksana Tomilova, Marina Efimova, Irina Kovtun, Vadim Kryukov and Victor Glupov

Abstract: Endophytic entomopathogenic fungi are promising agents for plant growth promotion, activation of immunity and protection against phytopathogens. However, physiological changes in plants after treatment with the fungi are insufficiently understood. We investigated the effect of root inoculation with conidia Metarhizium robertsii and Beauveria bassiana on the growth and physiological parameters of potato at initial stage of the plant – fungus dialogue (7 days) under hydroponic conditions. The results of this study showed that the fungi could act as a stress and immune-modulating factor for plants, expressed by the increase of malonic dialdehyde concentration, proline content and peroxidase activity. At the same time, we observed growth retardation and decrease in the content of photosynthetic pigments, that may be caused by tradeoff between plant growth and stress/immune response.

 

title: Physiological, enzymatic activities and histo-chemical responses of tomato plants treated with rhizobacteria

Authors: Ana Cecilia González-Franco

 

Back to TopTop